Saturday 14 July 1962 | Regent Dansette Ballroom, 38 High Street, Rhyl, Wales
On 14 July 1962, The Beatles made their first-ever performance in Wales, appearing at the Regent Dansette Ballroom in Rhyl. Admission cost just five shillings (25p), the night ran from 8pm to 11.30pm, and The Beatles were paid £4 for their performance — a reminder of how modest the financial rewards were even as their reputation was growing rapidly.
The Regent Dansette Ballroom
The Regent Dansette was a ballroom situated at 38 High Street, Rhyl, above a branch of Burton’s tailors. The venue was managed by Joe Young, whose wife worked on the cash desk. On the night of the show, she arrived to find John Lennon playing classical music on a grand piano kept in one of the rooms — a characteristic piece of Lennon mischief that surprised the venue staff.
The stage itself was improvised: wooden boards laid over billiard tables. The audience was a mix of tourists and locals, more likely to have come to dance than to watch the live music — a common dynamic at ballroom venues of the era, where the band was often background to the social occasion.
Before the Show: Exploring Rhyl
Prior to the concert, The Beatles spent a few hours exploring Rhyl, including a visit to the local funfair. The group also reportedly crossed the Foryd Bridge to the nearby Clwyd Hotel — now The Harbour — looking for additional work. The pub’s licensee, Haydn Davies, turned them away. His son Brent later recalled the story:
“The Beatles came to Rhyl in the early 60s just before they became famous, and to get a bit more cash they crossed the Foryd Bridge and came to The Clwyd Hotel (now The Harbour) and asked my dad, Haydn Davies, who was the first licensee on the North Wales coast to put on cabaret in a pub, for some extra work. But dad being dad turned them away saying ‘I’m not having long haired yobos like that in my pub!’ Oh if he only knew.”
— Brent Davies
The Support Act: The Strangers
The Beatles shared the bill with a local group, The Strangers, whose lineup was:
- Jeff Sutton — guitar & vocals
- Dennis Rothwell — guitar
- Pat Shuttle — bass guitar
- Pete Williams — drums
The Beatles in Wales
The Beatles never returned to the Regent Dansette, but Rhyl was not their last Welsh engagement. They performed in Wales on the following occasions:
- 19 & 20 July 1963 — Rhyl (return visit)
- 24 November 1962 — Prestatyn
- 24 January 1963 — Mold
- 22 June 1963 — Abergavenny
- 12–17 August 1963 — Llandudno
- 27 May 1963 — Cardiff
- 7 November 1964 — Cardiff
- 12 December 1965 — Cardiff
Key Facts: 14 July 1962
| Date | Saturday 14 July 1962 |
| Venue | Regent Dansette Ballroom, 38 High Street, Rhyl, Wales |
| Show time | 8pm – 11.30pm |
| Admission | Five shillings (25p) |
| Beatles’ fee | £4 |
| Support act | The Strangers |
| Significance | The Beatles’ first-ever performance in Wales |
| Lineup | Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, Pete Best |
38 High Street, Rhyl — the site of the Regent Dansette Ballroom, above a Burton’s tailors, where The Beatles made their first Welsh performance on 14 July 1962.
The Beatles: 1962 — On The Cusp of Everything
Officially licensed Beatles merch from the Cavern era.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did The Beatles first perform in Wales?
The Beatles made their first-ever performance in Wales on 14 July 1962, at the Regent Dansette Ballroom in Rhyl. Admission was five shillings and the group were paid £4 for the night.
Where was the Regent Dansette Ballroom in Rhyl?
The Regent Dansette was a ballroom at 38 High Street, Rhyl, situated above a branch of Burton’s tailors. The stage was made from wooden boards laid over billiard tables. The venue was managed by Joe Young.
How much were The Beatles paid for their Rhyl show in 1962?
The Beatles were paid £4 for their performance at the Regent Dansette Ballroom in Rhyl on 14 July 1962. Admission for the audience was five shillings (25p), and the night ran from 8pm to 11.30pm.
Did The Beatles return to Rhyl after 1962?
Yes. Although The Beatles never returned to the Regent Dansette, they did perform again in Rhyl on 19 and 20 July 1963. They also played other Welsh venues including Prestatyn, Mold, Abergavenny, Llandudno, and Cardiff between 1962 and 1965.
Who were The Strangers, the support act at Rhyl in 1962?
The Strangers were a local Rhyl group who supported The Beatles at the Regent Dansette on 14 July 1962. Their lineup was Jeff Sutton (guitar & vocals), Dennis Rothwell (guitar), Pat Shuttle (bass guitar), and Pete Williams (drums).
→ The Beatles live: Cavern Club (lunchtime) – 14 July 1961
→ The Beatles live: Cavern Club (evening) – 14 July 1961
→ 14 July in Beatles History
→ July in Beatles History
→ John Lennon: Beatles History, Solo Career, Songs & Legacy
→ Paul McCartney: Beatles History, Solo Career, Songs & Legacy
→ George Harrison: Beatles History, Solo Career, Songs & Legacy
→ Ringo Starr: Beatles History, Solo Career, Songs & Legacy
→ The Beatles Knowledge Hub
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